The General Regulations establish the rules governing the operations of the Accademia d’Arte Lirica Osimo in pursuit of the objectives set forth in its Statute. They are divided into the following sections:
1. Management
2. Faculty
3. Courses
4. Students
5. Artistic Activities
Art. 1 – MANAGEMENT
For its operations, the Accademia d’Arte Lirica relies on the work of the Artistic Director, the Educational Director, and the Administrative Director.
1) Artistic Director
1. The appointment of the Artistic Director is decided by the Board of Directors for a three-year term, which may be renewed.
2. They plan and manage the Academy’s training and artistic activities, presenting the schedule and financial reports to the Board of Directors at least once a year for an assessment of economic sustainability.
3. They represent the Academy in artistic matters to foster interaction with other training and opera performance institutions at national and international levels, including for the purpose of promoting the Academy’s students.
4. They attend Board of Directors meetings at the invitation of the President when matters concerning their activities are discussed.
5. They propose the appointment of faculty members to the Board of Directors and chair the Faculty Council and the Student Admissions Committee.
6. They prepare artistic activity programs and select the cast and creative team for productions.
7. They authorize the dissemination of the Academy’s artistic activities and individual public performances by students, including via social media channels.
8. In the event of a vacancy in the position of Artistic Director, the Board of Directors shall temporarily appoint the faculty member—resident in Italy—with the longest tenure at the Academy. In the event of a tie in tenure, the appointment shall go to the oldest candidate.
2) Didactic Director
• The position of Educational Director is appointed by the Board of Directors for a three-year term, which may be renewed.
• Manages the Academy’s educational activities in close coordination with the Artistic Director and the Administrative Director.
• Authorizes student absences based on valid reasons and—in the case of absences due to personal artistic commitments—after confirming the Artistic Director’s consent.
• Evaluates the conduct of students during their time at the Academy.
• Participates in Faculty Council meetings and, at the invitation of the President, in Board of Directors meetings when matters concerning their role are discussed.
3) Administrative Director
• The position of Administrative Director is appointed by the Board of Directors for a renewable three-year term and may also be assigned to an existing Academy employee.
• Manages administrative activities and coordinates the organizational staff responsible for executing internal and external artistic-educational programs, communications, and relations with Academy members, supporters, and collaborators.
• Records all Academy income and expenditures, maintains the relevant accounting documentation, and makes it available upon request to the President (the legal representative) and the Auditor.
• Prepares the final financial statements (economic and financial) for approval by the Auditor, the Board of Directors, and the Members’ Assembly. • Prepares the Academy’s annual preliminary budget and any preliminary and final financial reports required by public and private institutions that have funded the Academy’s activities
• Attends Board of Directors meetings at the invitation of the President when matters concerning their area of activity are discussed
• Participates in meetings of the Faculty Council
• In the event of a temporary absence, the President assigns the role on an interim basis to a member of the Board of Directors
2) Faculty Council
1. It is chaired by the Artistic Director and composed of the Educational Director, the Administrative Director, and the Academy’s teaching staff.
2. It is normally convened three times a year, as specified in the following paragraphs, and on an extraordinary basis whenever the Artistic Director deems it appropriate or at the request of the President.
3. The first meeting, held at the start of the academic year, is tasked with agreeing upon the study plans for both new and returning students and scheduling the availability of individual faculty members to participate in the Academy’s planned educational and artistic activities.
4. The second meeting takes place mid-course to evaluate the students’ ongoing progress across various training aspects, including commitment, regular attendance, academic advancement, and conduct. Individual assessments must be summarized and communicated to each student by the Artistic Director, either orally or in writing, as appropriate.
5. The third meeting, to be held by May—prior to the end of the academic year—is tasked with drafting final assessments for each student regarding the aspects of artistic and behavioral suitability outlined in the previous paragraph.
6. For students who have not completed the full cycle of studies prescribed by the Academy, the final assessment determines the issuance of the Certificate of Annual Attendance and admission to the subsequent year of the course. A final assessment resulting in non-admission must be communicated to the student by the Artistic Director in writing, supplemented by an oral interview if necessary. This decision is final and not subject to appeal by the excluded student.
7. For students who have completed the cycle prescribed by the academic courses, the assessment serves as the basis for issuing the final certificate attesting to the successful completion of the course of study. 8. To accommodate the schedules of the faculty—some of whom live far away and have limited involvement in the masterclasses—Faculty Council meetings may also be held with remote participation. In any case, the Artistic Director is required to gather written evaluations—or obtain input via telephone or web—from faculty members unable to attend; the only exception applies to those who, in the case of the mid-course meeting, have not yet had direct contact with the students. It is particularly important, especially regarding final assessments, to maintain a written record of all faculty evaluations; the Artistic Director must consolidate and synthesize these, incorporating their own assessments and consulting the Educational and Administrative Directors regarding matters within their respective areas of responsibility.
Art. 3 – COURSES
The Accademia d’Arte Lirica may organize training courses in any area covered by its Statute. The courses currently offered are as follows:
1. Professional Training Course in Opera Singing
Two-Year Advanced Specialization Course
• The primary objective is to equip the student with the preparation, professionalism, and experience necessary to enter the opera singing profession.
• Training is conducted through the following disciplines: vocal technique; interpretation, style, and expression in opera; diction, acting, and stage movement; Italian language proficiency; stagecraft; vocal chamber music; sacred music; cultural studies; and vocal hygiene and phoniatrics.
• To this end, in addition to the disciplines and repertoire study outlined in the curriculum, the training includes preparation for concerts and productions staged by the Academy.
Two-Year Advanced Mastery Course
• The Advanced Mastery Course is reserved for singers who, having completed the Advanced Specialization Course and obtained a Certificate of Attendance, wish to deepen and refine specific repertoire in preparation for competitions, concerts, and professional engagements.
• In this instance, study becomes even more personalized and focused on specific subjects: the composer, historical period, and genesis of an opera or specific repertoire are explored in depth. The course involves rigorous philological study. 2. Masterclasses and Seminars
1. The Academy organizes masterclasses and seminars to complement its training activities, featuring highly prestigious instructors.
2. Organizational details—including the program, deadlines, duration, and admission requirements—are established by the Artistic Director, in consultation with the Faculty Council, as part of the educational planning process.
3. The Administrative Director is responsible for ensuring the widespread and timely announcement of the call for participation.
Art. 4 – STUDENTS
1. Admission to Courses
a. Details regarding the courses offered by the Academy—including procedures, registration deadlines, required qualifications, admission exam syllabi and dates, registration and tuition fees, and the class schedule—are announced in the call for applications published for each academic year.
b. To be admitted to the course, candidates must pass an aptitude test; for this purpose, they must present the required academic record and a valid personal identification document to the Selection Committee.
c. Candidates who are not nationals of European Economic Community member states are required to hold a passport with a study visa.
d. In addition to regular students, the Academy may admit auditors—individuals who, subject to the Artistic Director’s approval, wish solely to attend classes held during the academic year, whether on a permanent or temporary basis.
2. Selection Committee
• It is composed of the Artistic Director (who chairs it), the Educational Director, and a member of the Academy’s teaching staff.
• The Artistic Director may invite one or more figures from the world of opera to join the committee.
• It convenes prior to the start of each academic year, allowing sufficient time to ensure broad candidate participation.
• It makes the final, binding decision regarding candidates’ suitability for admission to the Courses.
• Upon completion of the selection process, it draws up the list of admitted candidates for timely notification.
• Academy students seeking to advance to subsequent years of the Course are not subject to the selection process; their advancement depends on the final assessment made by the Faculty Council, as stipulated in Article 2, Paragraph 2 of these general regulations.
• The Artistic Director, having consulted the Faculty Council, may decide that students demonstrating exceptional preparation and aptitude for the art of opera may complete the course of study in one year rather than two. In any event, to obtain the Certificate of Attendance, the curriculum covered must be that of the full two-year course.
Code of Conduct
• Academy students are required to adhere to a code of conduct based on principles of personal and professional ethics, both within the Academy—regarding participation in educational and artistic activities, interactions with the Administration and Faculty, relationships among students, and the care of facilities—and outside the Academy.
• Failure to comply with the code of conduct may result, in cases deemed serious, in a written reprimand issued by the Academy President, following consultation with the Artistic Director, the Educational Director, and the Administrative Director. A student who receives a second written reprimand may be dismissed from the Course without a refund of the participation fee paid.
Art. 5 – ARTISTIC ACTIVITY
1. Students participate in the Academy’s annual artistic program of concerts and performances as an integral part of their training.
2. The selection of repertoire and participating students is the responsibility of the Artistic Director. When assigning roles, the Artistic Director considers each student’s level of preparation and vocal aptitude—ensuring suitability for public performance—as well as the characteristics of the target audience.
3. The Artistic Director has the authority to fill any unfilled roles using either students who have successfully completed previous academic courses or candidates selected through specific auditions. When assembling vocal casts, the Director may also designate understudies (“doubles”), always prioritizing students currently enrolled in the courses.
4. Throughout the duration of the courses, students are required to participate—without a performance fee, though subject to expense reimbursements determined on a case-by-case basis—in artistic events scheduled by the Academy, performing the roles assigned to them. 5. During the two-year advanced training program, students are not permitted to attend other public or private musical institutions, nor to participate in professional activities or competitions, without the authorization of the Academy’s Artistic Direction.